Functional and structural cardiac abnormalities in cirrhotic patients with and without ascites

Abstract

Liver cirrhosis is associated with cardiovascular and circulatory abnormalities. Scanty information was available as to whether these include left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and wall thickness increase.

The aim of our study was to clarify the nature of cardiac involvement in liver cirrhosis. The study included three groups:

Group 1: include 20 cirrho'tic patients with tense ascites.

Group II: include 20 cirrhotic patients with previous episodes of ascites.

Group Ill: incluclel 0 healthy control subjects of average age and sex for comparison.

All cases were admitted in the department of general medicine at Benha teaching hospital and were subjected to bed rest, low sodium diet and wash out from any diuretics.

All patients were subjected to the following:

I-Full historv takinc.'• Stressing on age, cardio\ asculm disease (including rheumatic fever, congestive heart lflilure, hypertension), renal disease, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis, hepatic encephalopathy, Bilharziasis, jaundice, severe anemia, recent haematemesis and melena, and systemic lung disease.

2-Ciinical examination including: Pulse, blood pressure, jaundice, edema lower limb, cardiac examination, chest examination and abdominal examination.